Lodgers

[Gemini]

Would you have one? Have you done so?

My friend who I had coffee with this morning was talking about meeting a new potential lodger. My friend is married and they have 2 daughters, 7 and 9. They have had lodgers for a year or 2 now. Recently they had a married couple using one room, and another lodger in another room. It is a big house with more than one bathroom. Only 1 kitchen though, although it is a large one.
I would absolutely hate this. I am not all that keen on having anyone but family stay at all, and even if we had more room, I would not want strangers in my house.

I can see it is an income, as my friend doesn't work, and their home is spacious, but for me no money would be enough! !

What are your thoughts?

[aggie]

Oh goodness NO , do my head in

[Libra Gran]

I had an Indian family which caused me grief when they stayed for 6 months, never again. Though happy they made a good future here, both work hard and have their own home. Years ago I used to have foreign students when we owned the Tardis. But not now just like it being us two.

[Enfys]

Not now, no way! Like Libra, we used to have foreign students years ago and most of them were lovely, just the odd one or two not so good. But we like being on our own in our own home too much now to even consider it.

[Mimi]

No not at all. It's bad enough having to share a bathroom with family but with someone you hardly know !!!

[Oma]

Only way I would do that is if I could shut one side of my home off to them ,and I certainly wouldn't have strangers in my house where my young family about you just don't know who they are , I don't mind visitors for a few days but I like my privacy too much

[Plantaholic]

Certainly not, share my kitchen with lodgers, no way

[Gemini]

I'm glad it's not only me who feels this way!

[Oma]

Gem some people it just wouldn't bother but I think a lot feel like you , it's a intrusion and you can't exactly relax can you , with strangers in your home you can't just sit around in your PJ,s or let the children run around naked after a bath like my boys would do ,what about having their friends over too ,would other children's parents allow there little ones to do that ? So many restrictions. No not for me at all

[Nanto2girls]

No way would we have lodgers. I don't think it would feel like my own home anymore.
When our eldest son's marriage broke up,he stayed here for a few months, until he got a house.
But strangers would be a different kettle of fish.

[Glammanana]

No chance we had a friend stay years ago and what a pain that was she thought she had her own personal phone line never again.

[Daisy]

We also used to have foreign students but they would be out on school trips etc during the day so it was really just evenings and week-ends. They were great fun and I enjoyed it, but it was just like having more children in the house, so not lodgers really. When my lovely friend who looks after Eva wanted to move house after losing her husband she came and stayed with us while she house hunted. She was with us for about a year, but that was fine as we worked well together in the kitchen and totally respected each other's space. I did feel I couldn't walk round the house in my birthday suit though!

But I wouldn't like strangers staying indefinitely and wouldn't want to share the kitchen or living room with them.

If I needed an income from the house I would probably do AirBnB.

[Plantaholic]

????????Daisy

[Daisy]

Plant - it's not quite as bad as it sounds. Our laundry bin is in the main bathroom which is right next to our bedroom so when I get ready for bed at night it's easy just to throw things straight into the bin - unless we've got visitors!!!

[Shemadee]

We used airbnb in the US recently. In Massachusetts we had our own place and it was great. Second place we were in someone's apartment and I wouldn't do that again! The info said you had your own bathroom but it was across the hallway. Flat owner was very nice etc but it felt awkward somehow. I've satisfied my curiosity about living in a sky scraper but wouldn't want to do it again.

Growing up a lot of neighbours had lodgers and the system worked well for all concerned. With hindsight a few were probably live in boyfriends but living over the brush would cause a huge scandal in those days.

I've seen an article where hospital staff lodge with elderly people who are on their own. They pay a much reduced rate and the students help out and keep an eye on their landlord.